在线英语听力室

英语美文:More than one way to the square

时间:2011-01-25 01:37:11

(单词翻译:单击)

We were standing1 at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small Italian town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.

"Look down, Elsa," Father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the centre of the village. And I saw the crisscross(十字形) of twisting2, turning streets leading to the square.

"See, my dear, " Father said gently. "There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another."

Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.

When I turned to Father for help, he would not interfere3. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.

At school the next day, I secretly poured my luncheon(午宴) soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I talked the cook into serving it to Mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly4. She swallowed one spoonful5 and sputtered(喷溅) , "The cook must have gone mad!" Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!

In the years that followed I often remembered the lesson Father taught me. I knew where I wanted to go in life. I wanted to be a fashion designer6. And on the way to my first small success I found the road blocked.

I was busy getting ready to show my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation7 the sewing(缝纫) girls were called out on strike. I found myself left with one tailor and woman who was in charge of the sewing room! I was as gloomy8 as my models and salesgirls. "We’ll never make it," one of them cried.

Here, I thought, is the test of all tests for Father’s advice. Where is the way out this time? I wondered and worried. I was certain we would have to call off the presentation or else show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?

We worked hurriedly. And, exactly 13 days later, right on time, the Schiaparelli showing took place.

What a showing it was! Some coats had no sleeves9; others had only one. Many of our clothes were still in an early stage. They were only patterns made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches10 and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show that what colors and textures11 the clothes would have when they were finished.

All in all, the showing was different. It was so different that it was a great success. Our unusual showing caught the attention of the public, and orders for the clothes poured in.

Father’s wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square always.

英语美文


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1 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
2 twisting vfBzka     
n.翘曲,扭曲v.扭,搓,缠绕( twist的现在分词 )adj.缠绕的;曲折的;转动的
参考例句:
  • The old peasant is twisting pieces of straw into a rope. 这位老农民正把稻草搓成绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Those children have been twisting the wreath off again. 那些孩子又把花冠扭了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
4 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
5 spoonful LTAzS     
n.一匙(的量)
参考例句:
  • She put a spoonful of milk in each of the two cups.她在两个杯子里各加了一匙牛奶。
  • Tom added a spoonful of sugar to the coffee.汤姆在咖啡里加了一勺糖。
6 designer owsxW     
n.设计者,制图者
参考例句:
  • Carolyne is a fashion designer.卡罗琳是一名时装设计师。
  • He was a set designer.他是一个布景设计者。
7 presentation SQJxt     
n.赠与,陈述,介绍;表演,展示
参考例句:
  • Last week we went to the presentation of a new play.上星期我们去观看了一场新剧的演出。
  • The manner of presentation is highly important.介绍的方式很重要。
8 gloomy cebzm     
adj.阴暗的,阴沉的,令人沮丧的,阴郁的
参考例句:
  • A few faint gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon.几束隐约的阳光使阴暗的下午有些明亮。
  • When I saw their gloomy faces,I knew something was wrong.当我看到他们沮丧的脸时,我知道出事了。
9 sleeves 14591324eec6d81a49ff6561f3ea1d56     
n.衣服袖子( sleeve的名词复数 );套管;套筒;唱片套
参考例句:
  • The long sleeves of her dress embarrassed her movements. 她衣服的长袖子妨碍她的行动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Girls nowadays don't wear their heart on their sleeves. 如今女孩子不轻易流露自己的感情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 sketches 8d492ee1b1a5d72e6468fd0914f4a701     
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概
参考例句:
  • The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。
  • You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 textures c5e62798e528da9080811018cbb27cd3     
n.手感( texture的名词复数 );质感;口感;(音乐或文学的)谐和统一感
参考例句:
  • I'm crazy about fabrics textures and colors and designs. 我喜欢各式各样的纺织物--对它的质地,色彩到花纹图案--简直是入了迷。 来自辞典例句
  • Let me clear up the point about the textures. 让我明确了一点有关的纹理。 来自互联网